Looking for train journeys - luxury or near luxury (summer)

[GoodbyeYellow]

We are in our sixties and grew up traveling the rails in India, but haven't been on a long or even mid-distance ride for decades. Wanting to relive that experience but nicer, we are scouting options for a summer getaway that includes both train travel as well as interesting destinations.

Neither cost nor time are huge factors (but of course not limitless - for example we just began flying Business and will keep doing so, but First is still an extravagance that likely won't happen).

Open to most developed countries beginning with USA - we are in SoCal, so an Eastern US trip would probably involve flying as would most international - and that's ok. OTOH we love the Western US so that's probably a priority.

Another thing we'd rather not have is very hot weather.

Hope all of the above doesn't sound too 'exclusive' but we want to do it without too much compromise and very hot weather is often a dealbreaker for us.

 

[Gumby]

Try Orient Express from Paris to Venice, or even to Istanbul.

 

[braumeister]

The Rocky Mountaineer through western Canada.

 

[pacergal]

^^+1
that's what I was going to suggest.
I haven't been, but it looks interesting and may be added to our bucket list

 

[Lorenzo]

The Royal Scotsman

 

[braumeister]

The Royal Scotsman

And if you're going that far, the Caledonian Sleeper is also a great ride.

 

[tutan]

Take the Amtrak Empire Builder from Portland, OR to Chicago and then the Lake Shore Limited to NYC with a side trip to Niagara Falls.

 

[PaunchyPirate]

Well, I would not consider any Amtrak train service to be luxury or near-luxury. But you could get your own nicely sized room in the sleeper cars. Lots of YouTube videos cover the trips in great detail so you can get an idea if the quality is there for you.

Living in SoCal, I would take the Coast Starlight all the way up to Seattle, then the Empire Builder to Chicago, then the California Zephyr back to San Francisco (Emeryville), and then the Coastal Express back to LA. You wouldn't need to do them all in one trip, although I would.

While not luxurious, they are a very nice, scenic slower-paced way to experience great views and a little bit of Americana.

 

[Koolau]

We enjoyed our one and only round-trip from Chicago to Las Vegas - mainly the part from Denver to Salt Lake City.

 

[Lewis Clark]

There is a cable channel that features programs on great train journeys. Can't remember which channel. Their episodes cover fancy trains all over the world. Might be worth looking for it and watching a few episodes.

 

[Koolau]

^^^^^^

Sounds like PBS but I doubt they're on line. Worth a look.

 

[Koogie]

I am also a train enthusiast, although up to now more of the high speed and long distance variety rather than luxury. Although there are several luxury journeys I'd like to add to the bucket list.

The VSOE is of course the epitome.

Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, A Belmond Train | Luxury Train from Paris to Venice

Experience a world of timeless glamour aboard the Venice-Simplon-Orient-Express luxury train. Enjoy overnight journeys aboard our art deco train from Paris to Venice and beyond.

www.belmond.com

They also operate the Eastern & Oriental Express.

Eastern & Oriental Express, A Belmond Train | Luxury Trains, Asia

Eastern & Oriental Express is one of the world’s best luxury trains. Southeast Asia’s vibrant cities, rural villages and gleaming pagodas can be explored like never before.

www.belmond.com

DW and I did that route back in 2002 but in decidedly less than luxury style. Although we did get to experience a lot of the very old stations (another interest of mine) on the line before they were "replaced" in the name of "modernization"

As always, the best website for ANYTHING train related including luxury routings, stations of interest and historic hotels enroute is the Man in Seat Sixty One. The Man in Seat 61 | The train travel guide

 

[COcheesehead]

Search Kara and Nate on YouTube. They have a series of luxury train videos on their channel.

 

[Lewis Clark]

There is a cable channel that features programs on great train journeys. Can't remember which channel. Their episodes cover fancy trains all over the world. Might be worth looking for it and watching a few episodes.

Here is a link to the series Wikipedia page:

Mighty Trains - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

I've recently seen episodes on either the Discovery Channel or Smithsonian Channel.

Even if you can't see any episodes this list might give you some ideas.

 

[Semi-Retyrd]

Many years ago I traveled with my family by train from Zurich to Geneva with a portion of the trip on the Glacier Express. See -

Glacier Express - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

If you have never been to Switzerland, this is a great way to see the country over three or four days.

Best memory - Having lunch while the train slowly goes up a mountain at 45 degrees on a rack and pinion system. All the tables and seats were built on a slant to keep them level in an elegant dining car.

 

[marinauser]

I would take Amtrak from your home to Vancouver and pick up the Rocky Mountaineer from there to Banff, Jasper or combine the trips into a loop back to Vancouver. We did this trip but started in Seattle one way to Banff. Canyon Spirit (part of the same group as Rocky Mountaineer) also now has a train I believe going between Denver and Salt Lake City that looks interesting.

 

[Lorenzo]

There is a cable channel that features programs on great train journeys. Can't remember which channel. Their episodes cover fancy trains all over the world. Might be worth looking for it and watching a few episodes.

Could the show be Michael Portillo’s—I think it might be called Great Railway Journeys.

 

[Lewis Clark]

Could the show be Michael Portillo’s—I think it might be called Great Railway Journeys.

See my post #14 for the show I was thinking of.

 

[cathy63]

Several have recommended The Rocky Mountaineer trip in Canada, which I second.

We also did a trip with them from Moab to Denver just after Covid. I see their sister company, Canyon Spirit, is now doing that journey. I highly recommend that one for the fall when the weather is a bit cooler and the leaves are turning. It was spectacular.

Otherwise, any train trip in Switzerland is fabulous even though they're fairly short. The Bernina Express; Glacier Express; Gotthard Panorama Express; Interlochen to the Jungfrau; etc. You can easily do a Swiss trip where you stay in luxury hotels and connect them by train.

 

[bluelight]

Many years ago I traveled with my family by train from Zurich to Geneva with a portion of the trip on the Glacier Express. See -

Glacier Express - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

If you have never been to Switzerland, this is a great way to see the country over three or four days.

Best memory - Having lunch while the train slowly goes up a mountain at 45 degrees on a rack and pinion system. All the tables and seats were built on a slant to keep them level in an elegant dining car.

We took the Glacier Express first class from Zermatt to Chur in 2024 as part of a Viking Cruise pre-extension. It was a wonderful way to spend a day.

 

[rodi]

We are looking at an epic train trip this fall between Paris and Rome this fall... Not super luxury (though we'll be business class)... But a train trip through the Alps sounds more enjoyable than a flight.

 

[nwsteve]

Depending on definition of luxury, check out Official Site of The Ghan | Journey Beyond Rail for some options to see Australia. We have done two of the routes, Adelaid to Alice Springs where left to see Uluru and Adelaid to Brisban. Be sure to book the Gold Premium to get ensuite bath